During its first 13-year run, I always blew hot and cold about the annual air show along Fort Lauderdale beach.

Worshiping war weaponry was never my big thing, and I didn't like the traffic, the crowds and the way the previous promoters kept taking increasing amounts of city money to stage the show while being coy about their finances.

On the other hand, the event was a big draw, attracting families and tourists for annual gatherings, and there was something indisputably cool about hanging out on the beach, the fighter jets swooping so low you swore you could feel the heat of their afterburners while the roar rattled your beer.

Now, after a four-year absence, I'm glad the Air Show is back. Love it or hate it, this is a signature event for our region, and even though the first show since 2007 was soggy this past weekend and washed out entirely on Sunday, it was nice to hear all those jets and planes rumbling overhead again on Saturday.

I suppose I could have been a tad more critical of the claim that Saturday's crowd numbered 475,000 (in the past, the daily count usually ran in the 100,000 range), but I figured organizers already had enough rain on their parade. Besides, who gets hurt by an overhyped guesstimate?

In any event, I want to hear about your experiences, and whether you're glad or sad to have the Air Show back. I know some nearby residents hate the traffic, noise and hassles, but I think we can all grin and bear it for one weekend a year.

Comments

The Air Show's return is more than welcomed and kudos to all who made it happen. Now if they can just do more to protect the dunes, sea oats, etc. that were repeatedly trod upon due to the very restricted access to the overcrowded beach at the main viewing area north of Sunrise...

were you asked by editors to put positive spin on this? taxpayers kicked in 150k this year so if you pay FLL property tax, you helped out
revenue is down big time again this year in FLL so they'll do anything to bring spenders to the beach

@Citizen -- My editors don't tell me what to write, just when to write.

You're comment is a bit misleading. As I wrote in the column, the city kicked in $140,000 from its Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. The CRA gets its money from property tax money located within the CRA borders (in this case, the beach district) that would otherwise go to other entities (like the county, hospital district, etc.)

So it's not true that all Fort Lauderdale property taxpayers contributed -- just those with property in the Beach CRA. Mayor Jack Seiler said no general fund tax revenue went to the show.

The topic of whether CRAs (which were authorized by the Legislature to eliminate "blight") are being misused/abused is whole other story.

As to whether it's appropriate for the Air Show to receive any public funds -- including CRA money -- that's something in the past I questioned, but I think using Beach CRA money in this case is appropriate because there's no doubt the Air Show directly stimulates business activity on the beach.

As the show takes root again, I'm hoping the promoters can do it all on their own without any public support. We'll see.

I understand the wind and rain may have curtailed some of the air show, but it was very disappointing compared to past years. The sky used to be filled with planes, the stealth bomber. This year sometimes 10, 20 minutes went by with nothing happening.

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About the author

MICHAEL MAYO has been the Sun-Sentinel's Broward news columnist since 2002. He is not a failed sports writer, as some detractors contend, just a lapsed one. He came to South Florida to cover sports in 1989. He now takes aim at everything under the sun. He was born in Brooklyn, went to college in Boston and has also lived in London and Spartanburg, S.C. His hobbies include losing weight (unsuccessfully) and losing golf balls (very successfully).